THE QUESTIONS WITH Jeremy Sowers

What was your welcome-to-the-big-leagues moment? Ken Griffey Jr. hitting a bomb [in my first start]. It was a 3-and-1 pitch, I went down and away, and he took it to left-center. Sometimes when you get a 3-and-1 count in the minors, hitters get antsy and get out in front of the ball. The 500-career home run hitter knows to keep his weight back and drive it to a certain field.

What was your most embarrassing moment? Not making it out of the fourth inning against Baltimore last year. It was one of those days when nothing worked. You need those now and then to keep you in check. But it's embarrassing.

If I were commissioner for a day, I'd ... do anything to benefit a pitcher. I'd like to see the plate expanded a bit.

If I weren't playing baseball, I'd ... maybe be involved in politics. At Vanderbilt, I studied political science. I don't really care for how politics are done. The idealistic side of me hopes it could be a little bit better.

LAST WEEK The 23-year-old Sowers, who went 7--4 as a rookie in 2006, allowed the Angels one run in seven innings to lower his season's ERA to 2.08.

THIS WEEK Sowers was set to start against the Yankees, whom he beat in his second big league start.

Before he became the premier postseason performer of his generation, the Patriots icon was a middling college quarterback who invited skepticism, even scorn, from fans and his coaches. That was all—and that was everything